By Srian Obeyesekere
Kusal Janith Perera finally produced the inherent firepower batting prowess he is reputed for in unleashing a match winning spectacular 101 off just 45 balls, his maiden T20 ton and the fastest by a Sri Lankan off 44 balls as Sri Lanka won a nerve tingling final T20 against New Zealand by 7 runs on a total of 218 for 5 off 20 overs to the hosts 215 for 7 in the 20 at the Saxton Oval in Nelson with the explosive left hander evoking memories of his spectacularly historic match winning unbeaten test century of 153 in the South Africans backyard in 2019 at Durban.
In another repeat act of creating big shows by a penchant liking on foreign terrain, the 34-year old Perera, broke loose over a long form bugging lapse in coming to his own in smashing the New Zealand attack to all parts of the ground exhilarated by 13 scorching boundaries and 4 over the top in taking control of the Lankan in innings from a low of 24 for the loss of Pathum Nissanka after 2.2 overs and when Kusal Mendis fell for 22 with the score 42 by the fifth over in a game turning century fourth wicket partnership off 45 bells together with skipper Charith Asalanka who smashed 46 off 24 powered by 5 over the top and a boundary. It followed Perera’s 41-run third wicket pairing off 26 balls with Avishka Fernando who made 17.
Sri Lanka’s rehashed batting line-up saw new star revelation Kamindu Mendis’ sudden form dip seeing him benched for Bhanuka Rajapaksa who TF remained unbeaten on 6 off 5 with a boundary and the enterprising all-round find Chamindu Wickramasinghe also given the nod, on ball on 6 off 6 with a boundary.
New Zealand’s chase was on a high of 81 for the first wicket between Rachin Ravindra and Tim Robinson 41 with Ravindra going on to a valiant cameo gung ho 69 off 39 with 4 over the top and 5 across.
Pacer Binaura Fernando made the initial strike for Sri Lanka removing Robinson caught by substitute Kamindu Mendis as the Lankan captain Charith Asalanka triggered a double wicket strike within 14; balls in reducing the hosts to 112: for 3; after 10.3 overs in a follow up from 94 for 2 after 8.4 overs having had Mark Chapman caught by Nissanka for 9 and next Glenn Philips also caught by Nissanka for 6.
New Zealand fought tooth and nail to the end with Daryl Mitchell firing 35 off 17 in a 4-sixer spree and a boundary and a last ditch Zackary Foulkes unbeaten 21 off 13 with 2 boundaries and a six, but the Lankans made sure their 218 held strong to the end with Asalanka accounting for the prize wicket of Ravindra as well in bowling him well and true to an all-round performance on his 3 wickets for for 50 with the wily leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga right up there with 2 for 38 in clean bowling last time out Players of the Match dangerous Mitchell Hay for 8 and having Michael Bracewell caught by Asalanka for 1.
Sri Lanka’s other wicket taker was Nuwan Thushara who removed Daryl Mitchell held by Wickramasinghe.
Sri Lanka 218 for 5 (Perera 101, Asalanka 46) beat New Zealand 211 for 7 (Ravindra 69, Asalanka 3-50, Hasaranga 2-38) by 7 runs
